presstalk 865-671-TALK (8255) or editor@farragutpress.com
• I’m calling to give thanks and to celebrate the $3.725 million that Tennessee received from the American Rescue Plan (Act), as reported by the farragutpress (page 2A story in our Wednesday, Nov. 16, issue). The paper also reports that Farragut received almost $2 million of those dollars. Thank you to all of Tennessee’s members of Congress who voted for this support and legislation — and for helping Tennessee on the road to recovery.
• At the last Farragut (Municipal) Planning Commission (meeting, Thursday, Nov. 17), Commissioners need to be more friendly to business wanting to come into Farragut. The Hy-Vee people from Des Moines, Iowa, they probably feel like Farragut’s not really friendly to business.
Glen Abbey would have a new traffic signal at Jamestowne Boulevard; they can come out of Jamestowne Boulevard at the traffic signal with Hy-Vee’s proposal. Whereas now, they have to risk it coming out of Glen Abbey turning left onto Kingston Pike.
The back property in the proposal from Hy-Vee is lower density per acre than Park Place or Glen Abbey. They are only asking for 2.5 density per acre.
The last thing is, Farragut better realize if you don’t encourage business, with its sales tax, coming into Farragut, you’re going to have to borrow money or have a (Town) homeowners property tax to support some of these budget items you have coming up for Farragut — unless you are more friendly to business. Farragut needs money.
• In response to the two callers from Presstalk from Nov. 23 about how wonderful Hy-Vee would be on the (property along Kingston Pike, to the south, about one-fourth of a mile west of Northshore Drive), if they had checked the facts a little closer, the majority of the residential property on (that) property is zoned currently Rural, R-1, which is less than two units per acre.
What Hy-Vee wants to do is (more than) double the commercial portion of this property and reduce the residential portion of this property by approximately half.
Also, they want to change the residential zoning from the Rural, R-1, to R-3, which is three to six units. And there’s also other changes for commercial and retail. How does this benefit, or not harm, the residents of Park Place, Glen Abbey, Derby Chase, Shiloh, Belleaire, Village Green and Farragut Crossing? Kingston Pike is not equipped to handle this additional load.
(Editor’s note: In reference to the Presstalks above concerning Hy-Vee, the company’s original intentions for their proposed building site changed after feedback following the Nov. 17 FMPC meeting. Although the company’s stated intentions for the proposed site, according to either or both callers above, may end up being a reality, a spokesperson for Hy-Vee contacted farragutpress through an e-mail Friday, Nov. 18, stating the company decided “… with the feedback we received from the community, (we) voluntarily withdrew our application to allow us to go back to the drawing board for the location near Kingston Pike and Campbell Station Road. Our plan is to come forward with a revised proposal. …” This was the key portion of that statement, which ran as part of a page 1A FMPC/Hy-Vee story in our Wednesday, Nov. 23, issue).
• I have heard that if Farragut does not accept the Hy-Vee large merchandise store with the high sales tax revenue, Loudon County will get it. Do we want to lose Hy-Vee to Loudon County — Loudon County will be after them if Farragut rejects Hy-Vee? Homeowners better think about that: either accept Hy-Vee, a big sales-tax generator, (inaudible) or (face) a property tax on homeowners.
• The Hy-Vee (proposed store) is a privacy and safety concern, not to mention noise and gas-fume pollution. I find it interesting that the one person who called in and said, “We have talked to numerous people about the Hy-Vee merchandise store proposal for Farragut, and most people are favorable.”
Then how come, on social media, a majority of people are against Hy-Vee building there? At a (Farragut Municipal Planning Commission) meeting, only three people spoke up in favor of Hy-Vee — and they live nowhere near (the proposed store) property. Everyone else opposes it.
• The majority of Farragut residents do not want Hy-Vee. It appears that Hy-Vee representatives do not understand that. If you continued to watch the (Farragut Municipal Planning Commission) meetings, it was clear the Commission was firm on their commitment that this property (on which Hy-Vee wants to build a store) not be rezoned.
What isn’t clear is why Hy-Vee cares to play bait-and-switch with their blueprint in hopes the Commission will be worn down and give up, or agree to something they simply don’t believe in. Those in favor of this development continue to use the threat of, “If this doesn’t happen something even less desirable will happen.” The current Land Use Plan and zoning is forward thinking; it makes Farragut something special. Hy-Vee should seek another parcel of land zoned to fit their needs.
• The traffic on McFee Road has been greatly increased due to large, established subdivisions and two newly created subdivisions in the future, namely The Grove and The Meadows — and a proposed school site. It is a constant challenge to turn from McFee Road onto Old Stage Road, especially during rush and school hours. A traffic light there seems extremely necessary and highly recommended. Is this option being considered by the Farragut (Municipal Planning Commission)?
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